Hackett on upcoming schedule changes, weight room upgrade, Noon vs Night games
Great interview on WTKA by Hackett.
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On future schedules that were set before Hackett got here-
"There were some decisions made a few years ago that for whatever reason made sense then. I don’t know that they quite make sense today"
LOL
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Future B1G schedules will feature a much earlier B1G opener like the 70s and 80s had.
"For example in the future because of the nine-game Big Ten season, we’re going to have to have an early Big Ten game as the season opens. All the Big Ten teams have agreed to start reconfiguring schedules to allow for that. And then there are some cool surprises maybe that will come. We’re working hard on some things can’t announce yet that I’m excited about.”
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BTN will sell our TV rights to other networks beginning in 2017. We will see Michigan games on FOX for the first time. Probably FS1 sometimes, as well.
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Communication remains open with ND. Harbaugh and Kelly are the ones who initiated the return.
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Fundraising is being done for a new weight room at Schembechler Hall. The building was gutted and the exterior was torn down in 2014 and completely remodeled.......at least the front porch was. Hackett on this-
"I want to say this so it doesn't upset people when we're raising money: the reason we need to do this is we put the important statue out front which is matters to me as much as anything, the museum which matters to our history. We never touched inside the building. We never touched any of the parts the players interact with. Weight room, training room, locker room."
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Harbaugh went back to work at 2:30. An hour after the Signing of the Stars ended.
- On the Noon vs Night battle-
“What happens in ’17, we have to start accommodating more night games and that’s a challenge at Michigan for a bunch of reasons. I’ve been trying to think of a way to get (night games) on a regular cadence. On the other hand, as Bo said toe to leather, playing that game at noon has a lot of attraction for the traditionalists, so I don’t know yet. I don’t know if we’re going to have a night game this coming year. Working on it but not settled.”
February 5th, 2016 at 1:29 PM ^
I hope it happens down the road because I really wanna kick their ass in EL this year.
February 5th, 2016 at 1:10 PM ^
I like games at noon or at night. When the game is at noon you can enjoy the rest of the day's big time match-ups. When the game is at night the same applies and most of your day isn't ruined in the rare instance Michigan loses. When the game is at 3:30 you risk getting stuck behind a game that goes over its slot (God forbid a Big XII game) and you miss other big games you would otherwise watch.
Admittedly these are minor issues as there is nothing better than watching Michigan anytime, but those are my preferences.
February 5th, 2016 at 1:16 PM ^
He also said something about switching back to alternating years for MSU/OSU right?
February 5th, 2016 at 1:37 PM ^
Prett much said it's not going to happen.
Michigan Insider host Sam Webb asked Hackett about working with the Big Ten on trying to stagger those games. “We need a slide rule to go through this because I was so surprised when I got into the job, of course I knew about the issue as a fan, season-ticket holder and so many people had written about this paradox,” Hackett said. “The simple insight is that when they were solving for two things, it causes problems. “The two things they were solving for was, A, you have to build these new divisions and create matchups and then, B, in doing that you don’t want to destroy really important rivalries and maybe even a C, we want to play Ohio State at the last game of the season. That seems less vital but what happens when you do the equals on your spreadsheet to those three variables you ended up with Michigan State up there in East Lansing two years in a row. I was so frustrated when that happened. Deep down inside, that program’s done really done well and we want every advantage we can get. And so, no, the only way that gets solved is if one of those variables changes, and that’s not going to be the case.”
February 6th, 2016 at 11:20 PM ^
It seems like it would be self-solving going forward.
MSU is in the exact same position we are . . . they have to play Michigan and Ohio State on the road every other year, just like we have to play Michigan State and Ohio State on the road every other year.
We should just switch sites with them one year and get it back to an in-state rival at home and Ohio State on the road rotation for both of us.
February 5th, 2016 at 1:25 PM ^
it always devolves into a noon-3:30 pm argument. Does it really matter when this team plays?
Beause we are going to watch. I will clear my schedule to watch no matter what, where or when. I have missed one game (fall wedding, yes, I know, unforgiveable --however, it was my nephew's and his school Mississippi State had bigger fish to fry that day, a win over Auburn, so I missed the night game vs. PSU) since 1994. I even saw Michigan's most incredible win over Minnesota in 2003 on the same day my house closed in Ann Arbor and I drove all the way to NC to my new home, without missing a single minute. It was a rainy Friday night here in Charlotte.
I don't care when Michigan plays, I will be there to watch. And since I have no control over that, I think that is the best atttude to take
February 5th, 2016 at 2:14 PM ^
The TV rights be sold, espeically those of us who don't live in the B1G footprint, then I can drop my subscription to BTN and still see games. Also think in the long run will make more money for the conference.
Definitely need to update the weight room and locker room. The facilities at UM are great, but those two areas are lacking a little bit. Can't imagine it will take long to raise the funds needed for this project.
February 5th, 2016 at 10:40 PM ^
I'm curious what he means by "cool surprises" regarding the schedule. He said a series with ND while possible is not happening in the near future. He pretty much said to expect more night games moving forward so that wouldn't be a surprise. He also said that the MSU and OSU games are going to remain as scheduled and won't be staggered. Moving conference games to early September has been planned for several years now, that would not be surprising. Could he be talking about a home and home with a marquee program (FSU, USC, Alabama)? Could he be talking about playing in a different venue/location? Perhaps playing Northwestern at Soldier Field or Wrigley Field? Rugers at Giants Stadium or Yankee Stadium? Maryland at FedEx Field? Not sure what could be so surprising in terms of changes to the schedule.
February 6th, 2016 at 10:47 AM ^
Bottom line: if Canham, Bo, or Hackett were AD at the time this would NOT have happened.
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